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If you or a loved one has been involved in a road traffic accident, our solicitors could help you get the compensation, rehabilitation and support you deserve. Each year we help thousands of people to claim following a road accident, and we could help you too.

How To Claim For A Road Traffic Accident

It's important to contact our road traffic accident solicitors as soon as possible. Insurance companies often try and settle claims directly, which can mean you get less compensation than you're entitled to. Call us and we'll give you a free initial consultation where we let you know if you're likely to have a successful claim, and how much compensation you might get.

No Win No Fee Road Traffic Accident Claims

Most of the road traffic accident claims our lawyers handle are on a no win no fee basis. That means you don't pay anything upfront, and there's nothing to pay if your claim is unsuccessful*.

If your claim succeeds, your opponent pays most of your legal fees, with anything outstanding coming out of your compensation. We'll keep you updated throughout your claim so you'll know how much compensation to expect.

How Long Do I Have To Claim After A Road Accident?

In most cases, you must start your claim within three years of the accident and we advise you to contact us as soon as possible.

Can I Make A Road Accident Claim If It Was My Fault?

It's worth speaking to us even if you think you were to blame. It may be that you were partly to blame, but you may still be able to claim if someone else was also partially at fault.

We'll talk to you about what happened and give you an honest view on your chances of receiving compensation.

How Long Do Road Traffic Accident Claims Take?

How long your road traffic accident claim takes depends on a range of factors, including the severity of your injuries and the complexity of the case. Some simple cases may settle in a few months, whereas more complex cases will take longer.

As soon as we have enough information, we'll give you an estimate of how long your claim will take.

Why Choose Us?

We're one of the UK's leading firms of road traffic accident solicitors. Many leading motor insurers work with us as they know we'll fight to get the best outcome for our clients. We successfully settle thousands of RTA claims each year, so no matter what happened to you, you know we have the experience and knowledge to help you claim.

Contact Us

For a free initial consultation about your road accident claim, call us on 0800 056 4110 or contact us online and we’ll come back to you as soon as possible.

If you've been injured in a road traffic accident you should seek medical assistance as soon as possible. Even if you only appear to have minor injuries, they could be more serious than you think and you should see a doctor.

You’ll also need to have a separate medical examination as part of the claims process, which we'll arrange. This will help us to determine the extent and impact of your injuries, which is an essential part of working out how much compensation you are owed.

Early compensation payments, also known as interim payments, are made in advance of any final settlement. They’re only made in an agreement with your opponent if they admit that they're responsible for your injuries.

Interim payments can be used to replace lost earnings, so you can afford to pay essential bills if your injury has meant you’ve been absent from work, as well as covering the cost of specialist medical care or mobility equipment.

We'll work hard to get an early admission of fault and also to obtain early compensation payments to relieve any immediate pressures you’re feeling.

It was so fantastic to have Irwin Mitchell supporting my recovery. They put in place additional services for me to help me with my rehabilitation, and it was able to carry on when the community services came to an end.”

Jaxx, client

Client Story &dash; Rosie Mayes

Rosie: Nothing I Can't Achieve

Our client, Rosie Mayes, was left tetraplegic after a car accident in which she suffered life-changing spinal injuries.

Rosie requires 24-hour care as a result of her injuries, and our solicitors helped Rosie and her family make a compensation claim to access the care and rehabilitation that she needed to return to her family's specially adapted home, as well as her university studies.

"When the case was settled, and I realised that Rosie's future was secure, it was a huge load off my mind. Suddenly the whole world opened up again.”

"They took an enormous load off our shoulders, and were incredibly supportive, empathetic, and able to share our distress in a very professional way“ - Wendy Mayes, Rosie's mother

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are The Most Common Types Of Road Traffic Accidents?

Although the majority of accidents on the road are between two cars, there are many other circumstances in which people can be injured, and may be entitled to claim compensation.

Accidents involving pedestrians or cyclists are also common, and can be very serious due to the lack of protection that these road users have compared to drivers. The same is true for motorcyclists, with the added risk of high speeds.

Cyclists and motorcyclists are often injured as a result of drivers not giving enough space to manoeuvre, pulling out into their path without looking, or not noticing bicycles or motorbikes in a blind spot. Cyclists are at particular risk from lorries and vans, because of the bigger blind spots on these vehicles.

Accidents involving public transport, whether a bus or a coach, can be incredibly traumatic, as these incidents can result in a larger number of victims, and may end up being quite high profile cases. The person responsible for the accident might not necessarily be the driver of the vehicle, or another road user. The transport operator could be found responsible if its safety or training procedures are found to be inadequate.

Bus and coach claims aren't just limited to public transport operators: private hire companies, as well as school bus or coach tour operators, can also be responsible for injuries. Similarly, accidents involving a taxi may involve claiming against a private hire company.

Road traffic accidents can cause a range of minor and serious injuries. Whiplash, an injury caused by the head snapping back and forth putting pressure on the neck and spine, is very common in road traffic accidents.

Does Irwin Mitchell Offer Rehabilitation Support?

We consider rehabilitation following a road traffic accident to be as important as financial compensation. Our personal injury specialists will work with you throughout every step of your claim so we can understand what support you need, and how you can access it in the best way, both today and in the future.

Rehabilitation can be an essential part of helping you and your family deal with the effects of a road traffic accident, helping you to recover from your injuries as much as possible. The support you need to help you travel and return to work will all be considered when calculating how much compensation you should receive.

We aim to ensure our clients are provided with the best rehabilitation support available, which is why we have won the Post Magazine Rehabilitation First Awards' Claimant Solicitor of the Year award seven times.

Where possible, we'll arrange for private care in a location near your home, so travelling to appointments is never an inconvenience. If it’s appropriate in your case, you may able to access a range of rehabilitation treatment and assistance, including:

Why Choose Irwin Mitchell?

We have many years of experience handling a wide range of road traffic accident claims, dealing with thousands of successful claims each year. Our solicitors have helped clients claim over £1 billion in compensation in the last two years alone.

No matter the injury, and no matter the circumstances, you will be met with compassionate, practical advice. The first time you contact us, we'll have a free initial consultation to discuss your accident, whether we think you can claim, and what your options are. There’s no obligation to go ahead with a claim at this stage, so you’ve got nothing to lose by giving us a call.

If you do choose us, we'll guide you through the claims process step by step, in plain English, letting you know exactly what we need from you at every stage. You can find out more about the claims process, or read our claims guide if you'd like to know more, or ask us any questions that you have when you speak to us.

Our specialised expertise in road traffic accident claims means you can be sure of excellent advice and support whatever your circumstances. Our road traffic accident investigation team, which includes a former police accident investigator and an advanced driving instructor alongside our expert personal injury solicitors, could interview witnesses, carry out site inspections and prepare reconstruction reports to find out who was at fault, where appropriate.

We're one of the only law firms in the UK with a specialist department carrying out this work, so you can be sure that we'll leave no stone unturned in our efforts to help you get the compensation you need.

We understand that every road traffic accident claim is different, from the circumstances of the accident and the vehicles involved, to the injuries suffered. Your claim will be handled by a lawyer with expert knowledge in the type of road accident you have been involved in, including:

Related Information - Road Traffic Accident Claims

Whiplash Claims - if you’ve been in an accident on the road which caused you to experience whiplash, you might be entitled to compensationRead More

Serious Injury Claims - our specialist serious injury lawyers could help you get the compensation and care you deserveRead More

Welfare & Benefits - our factsheets provide information on benefits you may be entitled to following an injuryRead More

#SaferJourneys - read our top tips for staying safe on the roadsRead More

All Scottish cases will be handled by the Scottish law firm with which we are associated, Irwin Mitchell Scotland LLP. The law relating to funding is different in Scotland and you will receive separate advice about what that means as well as a separate funding agreement.

* Subject to entering into a No Win No Fee agreement in conjunction with our Allianz Litigate insurance policy and complying with your responsibilities under its terms.

Awards & Accreditations

Nothing is too much trouble

"They have a fantastic, client-focused approach where nothing is too much trouble. They are very rehabilitation-focused, and the practice understands the roles and challenges of the treating team. They are always efficient and effective in all communications."

Chambers & Partners, 2018

In a league of its own

"‘An absolutely outstanding firm’ that is ‘one of the national leaders in the field’, Irwin Mitchell ‘is second to none for sheer hard work alone’; the firm’s ‘innovation and dedication to its clients places it in a league of its own.’"

Legal 500, 2017

What Our Clients Say

We truly value and appreciate the feedback we receive from our clients, as we look to improve the services we offer on an ongoing basis.